Material level control means for incinerators

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for controlling the level of buildup of rubbish in the chute above the charging gate of a flue-fed incinerator. A freely rotatable spherical member is guided for axial sliding movement along a cylindrical sleeve extending through the wall of the chute a given distance above the charging gate. The movable member normally protrudes into the interior of the chute and is at least partially retractable into the sleeve in response to out-thrusting pressure of the rubbish in the chute acting on the protruding portion. The movable member is permanently urged into protruding position and actuates, when moved into retracted position, a mechanism which opens the charging gate so as to release the built-up rubbish into the combustion chamber of the incinerator.

United States Patent Inventor Sheldon ll. Lazan l-lauppauge, N.Y.

Appl. No. 10,380

Filed Feb. 11, 1970 Patented Oct. 5, 1971 Assignee Pyro Industries Inc.

Mineola, N.Y.

18.2; ZOO/61.2, 61.21; 110/18 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,114,257 4/1938 Thomas 110/18 A 2,376,304 5/1945 Anderson 214/17 CA Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan AnorneyHenry Sternberg ABSTRACT: Apparatus for controlling the level of buildup of rubbish in the chute above the charging gate of a flue-fed incinerator. A freely rotatable spherical member is guided for axial sliding movement along a cylindrical sleeve extending through the wall of the chute a given distance above the charging gate. The movable member normally protrudes into the interior of the chute and is at least partially retractable into the sleeve in response to out-thrusting pressure of the rubbish in the chute acting on the protruding portion. The movable member is permanently urged into protruding position and actuates, when moved into retracted position, a mechanism which opens the charging gate so as to release the built-up rubbish into the combustion chamber of the incinerator.

MATERIAL LEVEL CONTROL MEANS FOR INCINERA'IORS This invention relates to apparatus for controlling the level of material in a chute and particularly for controlling the level of buildup of rubbish on the charging gate of a flue-fed incinerator.

' ln flue-fed incinerators, such as are commonly used in apartment houses, a chute extending substantially the height of the building is frequently provided for convenient disposal of rubbish into such chute at each floor level. At the lowermost end of the is located a charging gate. In the past it has been common to control the opening and closing of such charging gate with a timer device.

A number of major problems present themselves when the charging gate is cyclically controlled according to a predetermined time cycle, Since the height of trash buildup in, for example,an apartment house is completely unpredictable there is the possibility thata substantial amount of rubbish Will be deposited on the charging gate during any such cycle. Furthermore, if the cycle is long enough such rubbish will remain on the charging gate for an extended period of time and may block thepassage leading into the flue through which the normal products of combustion enter the flue. If this should happen, the products of combustion can not properly escape form the incinerator thus causing a substantial fire hazard and risking considerable equipment damage. On the other hand, it is not desirable to open the charging gate too frequently since this would interfere with efficient operation of the incinerator combustion process.

In another known system there is provided a weight responsive mechanism which allows the charging gate to open when sufiicient weight of rubbish has collected thereon. Such gate may be provided with a counterbalancing weight sufficient to hold the gate closed until a predetermined weight of rubbish has collected on it, at which time the gate opens. The disadvantage of such an arrangement, of course, is that pieces of rubbish falling from a great height and impacting the gate may cause the latter to open too frequently and, under certain conditions, depending on weight and positioning of the rubbish and/or the height from which it is dropped, the gate may open partially and may even remain in such partially opened condition for an extended period of time, thus reducing the efficiency of the incineration process progressing beneath.

According to still another known arrangement th'e gate is automatically controlled by a photoelectric cell which causes it to open automatically when waste material passes the photoelectric cell in falling toward the gate. Such an arrangement is described in U.S. PAT. NO. 2,114,257 In the latter arrangement whenever waste material falls toward the charging gate it intersects a beam of light and causes the photo cell to actuate a mechanism for opening the gate. The disadvantages of such a system are obvious. First, the photoelectric device must operated in a very hostile environment including the presence of large amounts of dirt, fly ash, hot gases, and vapors as well as the possible presence of flash fires and trash of all types including steel objects falling and ricocheting from side to side substantial heights. Such objects falling forrii a upper story of a highrise building can well exceed speeds of 100 feet per second. During a flash fire in the chute, temperatures could rise to approximately l,200 F. Photoelectric cell devices and the lamps used for producing the light beams are not practical in such environments. Since both transmitter and receiver would soon be covered with soot and dirt, substantially reducing if not eliminating entirely the transmitted light beam, frequent cleaning would be required. As a result of the aforesaid temperature and other deleterious environmental conditions to which such light source and receiver would be subjected frequent replacement would be necessary.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providean automatic charging gate control for controlling the opening and closing of the charging gate of a flue-fed incinerator which does not have the above disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a relatively simple and economical apparatus for controlling the charging gate of a flue-fed incinerator.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a charging gate control of the type described above which will operate satisfactorily in the hostile environment present in the flue of a flue-fed incinerator.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the above mentioned type which will be responsive to the height of buildup of rubbish on the charging gate as well as to the presence of excessive temperatures in the flue.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided for removably mounting in an opening extending through the wall of a flue-fed incinerator, at a location a predetermined distance above the charging gate thereof, a pressure responsive apparatus comprising a cylindrical sleeve extending through said opening and a freely rotatable spherical member guided for axial sliding movement along said sleeve. Said spherical member normally protrudes out of said opening into the interior of the chute and is retractable into said sleeve in response to out-thrusting pressure of the rubbish in the chute acting on the protruding portion of the spherical member. The movable member is permanently resiliently urged into said protruding position and actuates, in retracted position thereof, an operating mechanism which opens the charging gate of the incinerator so as to release the rubbish built-up thereon into the destructor chamber of the incinerator.

The nature of the invention and other objects thereof will be understood upon reading the following description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional elevation of an incinerator and a part of the flue thereof showing the charging gate and the control apparatus therefor, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan view, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing on an enlarged scale the apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional, elevational view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial, perspective view showing one embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention prior to insertion in an opening provided therefor in the wall of the incinerator flue;

FIG. 5 is a schematic showing in simplified form the electric circuit according to one embodiment of the present invention; and r FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the forward portion of the embodiment shown in FIG.v v3 illustrating the ball member in two positions thereof. t 7

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a flue-fed incinerator having a destructor chamber 11 and a grate 12 onto which waste is introduced through the flue 10 by means of inlet doors located at the vari-. ous floors of the building.

At the bottom of the flue 10 there is located, for closing the latter, a swinging charging gate 13 which may be pivotably mounted along one edge thereof on a shaft 14 which runs adjacent one wall of the flue. The charging gate 13 may thus swing down to open the flue andrelease onto grate 12 any rubbish W collected thereon The adjacent flue wall may be offset below the shaft 14 to allow the gate, when hanging in open position, to completely clear the line of the flue wall and thereby make it impossible for waste to lodge upon any portion of it while in open position.

It is desirable to open and close the gate 13 automatically in such a manner as to cause the least possible interference with the destruction process in destructor chamber 11, while at the same time permitting the introduction of waste into the flue whenever desired and without risking the hazardous consequences which might result from too great a buildup of the waste in the flue itself.

Waste introduced into the flue while the gate is closed, simply accumulates thereon.

The gate 13 is advantageously moved between open and closed positions thereof by appropriate operating means 15 such as, for example, a suitable hydraulic piston-cylinder arrangement or asuitable electric drive motor.

The walls of incinerator flues, such as wall 16 of the flue are normally constructed of bricks 160 (FIG. 4) There is preferably provided in such wall an opening 168 which extends through the wall 16 and has a transverse cross section area preferably substantially equal to that of the bricks 16a. This opening is provided at a predetermined distance L (FlG. 1) above the charging gate 13.

The control apparatus 20, according to the present invention, preferably includes a rectangular box-shaped sheet-metal housing 21 adapted to be slidably and removably received in a suitable rectangular shell 22, open at opposite ends thereof, and received in the opening 16b. Shell 22 is preferably constructed of a size and shape substantially corresponding in transverse cross section to one of the bricks 16a and may be attached to the wall 16 of the flue by any suitable means well known to those skilled in the art. Shell 22 is preferably provided with a rear, outwardly flanged, end portion 22a and an inwardly flanged front end wall 22b (FIG. 2) preferably flush with the interior wall surface 10a of the flue. Housing 21 (FlG. 2) includes a front wall 21a and a removable backwall 21b which may be suitably connected to shell 22 and to the flue wall by for example, four screws 17.

In the housing 21 there is suitable fixedly connected a hollow cylinder 23 preferably extending from the front wall toward the rear wall thereof. Cylinder 23 is preferably provided at the front end portion thereof with an inwardly extending annular shoulder 19.

When inserted into the shell 22 the housing 21 extends through the entire wall 16 of the flue 10 with the forward end wall 21a of the housing 21 in abutment with the front wall 22b of the shell 22. The front wall 21a of housing 21 is provided with a circular opening 210 having a diameter preferably slightly greater than the inner diameter of the shoulder 19 and coaxial therewith.

The exterior surface of outer shell 22 is preferably suitably permanently sealed along its outer surface to the brick wall 16 in the opening 16b.

The shell 22 may be open at its front end except for the flanges 22b thereof.

A spherical member 26 having a diameter providing a sliding fit in the sleeve 23 is received in the forward region of sleeve 23, with the ball 26 being free to rotate about its own center and to slide axially within the sleeve 23.

The diameter of the opening formed by the shoulder 19 is sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the ball 26 so as to act as to act as a retaining means retaining the ball in the sleeve and preventing the ball from moving in opposition to the direction A" further than the position illustrated in FIG. 2. Since the ball 26 is freely rotatable in the sleeve 23 as well as axially slidable therein it is exceptionally resistant to damage from objects ricocheting in the flue, since when hit it will deflect the blow partially by its ability to rotate. Furthermore, as a result of this freedom to rotate, different portions of the surface of the ball will at various times face the interior of the flue. Thus the entire surface of the ball, and not only one small portion thereof will be exposed over a period of time, thereby lessening the impacts on any particular portion of the sphere so as to increase the life thereof.

A pair of transverse partition walls 27 and 28 are preferably rigidly secured in the cylinder 23 and each provided with a central opening, 270 and 28a, respectively, for receiving therethrough and guiding therein an actuator means in the form of a plunger i.e. cylindrical rod 29 which preferably extends along the axis of cylinder 23 and is in contact at its front end with the ball 26. Mounted on a suitable bracket at the rear of cylinder 23 is a suitable electric switch 30 having its movable element 31 in abutment with the rear end portion of rod 29. It will be seen that rearward movement of the ball 26 in a direction from the interior toward the exterior of the flue 10 results in movement of rod 29 rearwardly, i.e. the direction of arrow A, to actuate switch 30.

A bias means preferably in the form of an annular member 32 of elastically deformable material such as sponge rubber is positioned between the ball 26 and the transverse wall 27 for permanently urging the ball into its rearward position i.e. the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The elastically deformable member 32 preferably fits snugly, in undeformed condition, into the interior of cylinder 23, in circumferential engagement with the inner wall thereof Movement of the ball 26 in the direction of the arrow A (F IG. 3) results in deformation of elastically deformable member 32 in response to which the latter member expands radially at least slightly so as to even more securely sealingly engage the inner wall of cylinder 23. Rod 29 extends through an axial opening in member 32. As the material of member 32 is deformed it, of course, also exerts a bias force on ball 26 urging the latter, in a direction opposite' to that indicated by arrow A, back towards its first i.e. rear position illustrated in F IGS. 2 and 3.

ln operation, waste material W introduced into the flue, while the charging gate 13 is closed, builds up thereon (FIG. 1). When this waste material W has built-up to a height slightly in excess of height L, the protruding portion of ball 26 will be subjected to the out-thrusting pressure of the builtup waste material in the flue and will be moved thereby, in opposition to the force of bias means 32, from its first position (FIGS. 2 and 3 in the direction of arrow A", into a second position (not shown) in which the ball 26 is closer to the switch means 30 than in the first position thereof. in response to such movement the actuator means 29 will actuate switch 30 closing the contacts thereof and energizing the drive means 15 connected in circuit 33 (FIG. 5) therewith for opening the charging gate 13 as to release the built-up waste material W into the destructor chamber 1 1. As soon as the waste material is released, the bias means 32 is able to once more urge the movable member 26 back into said first position thereof thus once more opening circuit 33 which, through suitable well known means (not shown) actuates the drive means 15 to move the charging gate 13 back into closed (FIG. 1) position thereof. A suitable source of power is represented at 35.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention there is also mounted in the housing 21 a suitable heat sensor 36 which extends through a suitable opening in the front plate 21a into the interior of the flue. Sensor 36 is connected in parallel with switch 30 in electric circuit 33. Sensor 36 may be of well-known construction having a heat responsive element 35 adapted to close contacts 36a in response to detecting the presence of a predetermined temperature in the interior of the flue 10.

Advantageously, a suitable time delay relay 34 of well known construction may be incorporated in the electric circuit 33 so as to prevent actuation of the gate drive means 15 and thus prevent opening of the charging gate 13 by either a high temperature rise lasting for only a very short duration i.e. less than the amount set into the time delay relay 34, or by an instantaneous force on the ball 26 such as might result from a ricocheting object striking the ball 26.

According to the preferred embodiment, the temperature responsive means 36 is such as to complete the circuit between the contacts 36a when the temperature in the flue above the gate 13 exceeds approximately 200 F.

The preferred height L is between approximately I and 10 feet while the bias means 32 is preferably such that it will resist movement of the ball member 26 from its first i.e. forward position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 into its second i.e. rearward position shown in dotted lines in FlG. 6, with a force of approximately 1 pound.

It will be obvious that while according to the preferred embodiment the movable member has a spherical shape it is necessary according to the present invention only that the protruding end portion of the movable member have a convex configuration. in other words the portion of the movable member which protrudes into the interior of the flue could for example be of generally elliptical or other curved shape and need not be spherical so long as it is convex in the direction of the interior of the flue. Furthermore, it will be seen that such movable member could be in the form of a piston, rather than a ball, received in the sleeve or cylinder 23 and having a convex top surface portion protruding into the flue according to the latter embodiment the piston member would be free to rotate about the axis of sleeve 23 and be slidable therein.

It will be understood that spherical member 26 can be made of any suitably heat and impact resistant material such as stainless steel and could be either hollow or solid. According to the preferred embodiment the ball is a stainless steel hollow ball (FIG. 6) having approximately a V4 inch wall thickness and having an outside diameter of approximately 4. inches. The outer shell 22 is preferably approximately 5 inches high by 8 inches wide and extends substantially through the entire wall of the flue.

It will also be seen that a coil spring or other suitable biasing means could be used to provide the required biasing force on member 26.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments presented herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for controlling the amount of buildup of rubbish materials in the flue of an incinerator comprising:

cylindrical sleeve means adapted to be positioned in an opening at a give elevation in a wall of the flue said cylindrical sleeve means having an end portion facing toward the interior of said flue;

a movable member slidingly received in said sleeve means and guided by said sleeve means for movement axially of the latter and for rotational movement at least about said axis, and movable member having a convex portion facing the interior of the flue and said movable member being guided for movement in said sleeve means between a first position in which said convex portion thereof extends beyond said end portion of said sleeve means a given distance into the interior of the flue and a second position in which said convex portion at least does not extend as far into said flue as in said first position thereof;

bias means associated with said movable member for urging the latter toward said first position thereof;

control means adapted to operated on the rubbish material for controlling the amount of rubbish material in the flue; and

operating means associated with said movable member and adapted to actuate said control means in response to said movable member being moved into said second position thereof by the out-thrusting pressure of said rubbish thereon whereby buildup of the rubbish material in said flue beyond approximately the elevation of said movable member, is prevented.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movable member comprises a spherical member located in said sleeve means and slidable as well as freely rotatable therein in all directions about its own center.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising rectangular housing means surrounding and fixedly connected to said sleeve means and means detachably securing said housing means in said opening in the wall of the flue.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said detachable securing means comprises an outer shell extending through the opening in the flue wall and fixedly secured to the latter, said housing means adapted to be removably received in said outer shell.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a charging gate on which the rubbish is deposited, and said operating means comprises an electric circuit, switch means associated with said movable member for actuating said switch means in response to movement of said movable member into said second position thereof, and drive means in said circuit operatively connected to said control means for operating the latter in response to actuation of said switch means.

. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising temperature responsive means adopted to be positioned in the region of the interior of the flue and connected in said electric circuit in parallel with said switch means for energizing said drive means to open said charging gate in response to the temperature in said flue reaching a predetermined level.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said end portion of said sleeve means is located substantially in the plane of the adjacent flue wall and said sleeve means comprising retaining means in the region of said end portion thereof for preventing said movable member from advancing toward the interior of the flue beyond said first position thereof.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said movable member is spherical and said retaining means comprises an annular, inwardly extending, flanged portion of said sleeve means the inner diameter of said flanged portion being at least slightly less than the diameter of said spherical member.

9, The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises switch means located in the region of the opposite end of said sleeve means space from said spherical member an elongated member extending alongsaid axis of said sleeve means between said spherical member and said switch means for actuating the latter in response to movement of said spherical member into said second position thereof.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sleeve means comprises a transverse wall portion spaced from said spherical member, and said bias means comprises an annular means of elastically deformable material coaxially arranged within said sleeve means intermediate said spherical member and said transverse wall portion, said deformable member expanding into sealing engagement with the inner cylindrical wall of said sleeve means while simultaneously urging said spherical member toward said first position thereof in response to movement of said spherical member from said first toward said second position thereof.

1 l. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the opening provided in the wall of the flue corresponds to the size of one of the bricks of which the flue is constructed and said outer shell corresponds in shape and dimension substantially to said one brick so as to be interchangeable therewith. I

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movable member is a hollow spheroid.

13. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said operating means further comprises time delay means connected in said electric circuit for preventing opening of the incinerator charging gate in response to movement of said movable member into said second position thereof for a duration shorter than a predetermined duration, in response to impact thereon by afalling piece of rubbish.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,610,181 Dated June 97 Inventor (1) Sheldon H. Laz an It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 25, change "give" to --given--.

Column 5, line 31, change "and" to --said--.

Column 5, line #1, change "operated" to --operate--.

Column 5, line 50, delete the comma.

Column 6, line 6, after "switch means" insert --connected in said electric circuit, actuator means--.

Column 6, line 31, change "space" to --spaced--.

Column 6, line 32, after member" (first occurrence) insert --and--.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of December- 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE'ICHER,JR. ROBERT GO'ITSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents 

1. Apparatus for controlling the amount of buildup of rubbish materials in the flue of an incinerator comprising: cylindrical sleeve means adapted to be positioned in an opening at a give elevation in a wall of the flue said cylindrical sleeve means having an end portiOn facing toward the interior of said flue; a movable member slidingly received in said sleeve means and guided by said sleeve means for movement axially of the latter and for rotational movement at least about said axis, and movable member having a convex portion facing the interior of the flue and said movable member being guided for movement in said sleeve means between a first position in which said convex portion thereof extends beyond said end portion of said sleeve means a given distance into the interior of the flue and a second position in which said convex portion at least does not extend as far into said flue as in said first position thereof; bias means associated with said movable member for urging the latter toward said first position thereof; control means adapted to operated on the rubbish material for controlling the amount of rubbish material in the flue; and operating means associated with said movable member and adapted to actuate said control means in response to said movable member being moved into said second position thereof by the out-thrusting pressure of said rubbish thereon whereby buildup of the rubbish material in said flue beyond approximately the elevation of said movable member, is prevented.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movable member comprises a spherical member located in said sleeve means and slidable as well as freely rotatable therein in all directions about its own center.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising rectangular housing means surrounding and fixedly connected to said sleeve means and means detachably securing said housing means in said opening in the wall of the flue.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said detachable securing means comprises an outer shell extending through the opening in the flue wall and fixedly secured to the latter, said housing means adapted to be removably received in said outer shell.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control means comprises a charging gate on which the rubbish is deposited, and said operating means comprises an electric circuit, switch means associated with said movable member for actuating said switch means in response to movement of said movable member into said second position thereof, and drive means in said circuit operatively connected to said control means for operating the latter in response to actuation of said switch means.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising temperature responsive means adopted to be positioned in the region of the interior of the flue and connected in said electric circuit in parallel with said switch means for energizing said drive means to open said charging gate in response to the temperature in said flue reaching a predetermined level.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said end portion of said sleeve means is located substantially in the plane of the adjacent flue wall and said sleeve means comprising retaining means in the region of said end portion thereof for preventing said movable member from advancing toward the interior of the flue beyond said first position thereof.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said movable member is spherical and said retaining means comprises an annular, inwardly extending, flanged portion of said sleeve means the inner diameter of said flanged portion being at least slightly less than the diameter of said spherical member. 9, The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said operating means comprises switch means located in the region of the opposite end of said sleeve means space from said spherical member an elongated member extending along said axis of said sleeve means between said spherical member and said switch means for actuating the latter in response to movement of said spherical member into said second position thereof.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sleeve means comprises a transverse wall portion spaced from said spherical member, and sAid bias means comprises an annular means of elastically deformable material coaxially arranged within said sleeve means intermediate said spherical member and said transverse wall portion, said deformable member expanding into sealing engagement with the inner cylindrical wall of said sleeve means while simultaneously urging said spherical member toward said first position thereof in response to movement of said spherical member from said first toward said second position thereof.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the opening provided in the wall of the flue corresponds to the size of one of the bricks of which the flue is constructed and said outer shell corresponds in shape and dimension substantially to said one brick so as to be interchangeable therewith.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said movable member is a hollow spheroid.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said operating means further comprises time delay means connected in said electric circuit for preventing opening of the incinerator charging gate in response to movement of said movable member into said second position thereof for a duration shorter than a predetermined duration, in response to impact thereon by a falling piece of rubbish. 